NEW DELHI, Oct 2026 : The Rekha Gupta government is facing mounting corruption allegations, with fresh irregularities surfacing across departments week after week. Now questions of corruption reached the printing of free textbooks for government school students. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj revealed that despite tender specifications requiring books to meet NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) standards, the government had them printed on substandard paper. He shared that 40% commission was taken in the printing process under Education Minister Ashish Sood’s department, adding that the latest case followed earlier controversies involving health, bicycles, rice and the Delhi Jal Board (DJB)’s tender to eliminate foam in the Yamuna.
Addressing a press conference at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) headquarters on Friday, AAP Delhi Unit President Saurabh Bharadwaj stated, “BJP governments have always been opposed to education. Ever since Rekha Gupta’s government came to power, its interest has been in promoting private schools. School fees at private schools were increased last year and have been raised again this year. Only when fewer children attend government schools will they turn to private schools.”
Saurabh Bharadwaj stated, “Around 40% commission was taken in the procurement of bicycles. After that, 5 crore kilograms of rice belonging to Delhi was looted. Open theft and collusion are taking place in Delhi Jal Board tenders. The government carried out a ₹700 crore scam in the Health Department. Now, Education Minister Ashish Sood’s Education Department is engaging in major corruption in the procurement of books that are distributed free of cost in government schools.”
The AAP Delhi President explained, “Half the academic session has passed, yet books have not been distributed in government schools. Here is the Class 8 NCERT textbook *Malhar*, which is available at any private bookstore. The Delhi government has had this very book printed through a tender. We have obtained copies of all the tenders for Classes 1 to 8. The specifications in these tenders are exactly the same as those of the books available in the market. The paper size is supposed to be A4, and the paper quality must be 80 GSM.”
He further explained, “The price of paper is determined by its thickness. Paper of 60 GSM is of the poorest quality, while 80 GSM is standard paper used for printing books. The NCERT textbook I purchased from a private shop is printed on 80 GSM paper. In contrast, the book printed through a tender by Ashish Sood’s ‘chor’ Education Department looks like a cheap photocopy. Its paper is 60 GSM, and instead of being white, it is grey. Just as this government operates in the grey market, its books and printing reflect the same approach.”
Saurabh Bharadwaj stated, “Class 8 students are being given a book with such tiny print that they would need a magnifying glass to read it. Rekha Gupta’s photograph has been printed on the first page, so that everyone knows who the book is being provided courtesy of. There is a world of difference between the two books.”
“The price of the book available at a private shop includes the commissions of the shopkeeper and distributor, yet the book printed by the government appears to involve a 40% commission. Any printer can confirm that this is 60 to 65 GSM paper. The people in the government have indulged in open loot and taken money even by cutting corners on the size of the books,” he added.
The AAP Delhi Chief shared, “A printer told us that when the paper quality and size are taken into account, there is a difference of at least 40% between the prices of the two books. Just as happened with bicycles, a 40% commission has been generated in the case of books as well. I would like to congratulate Education Minister Ashish Sood because his department is completely secular: it treats books and bicycles equally and mantains a 40% commission on both.”
He asserted, “Ashish Sood must explain who all took this commission. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta must tell us who was involved in taking the 40% commission. Were they officials or politicians who have even taken commissions from books meant for schoolchildren?”
